Celebrant (Australia)
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- For other uses, see Celebrant.
In Australia, there are a number of different types of celebrants who perform a range of ceremonies and celebrations in the community. An authorised "celebrant" is a person who is authorised (registered) by the Australian Government to perform marriages according to Australian law. The celebrant may be a representative of a religious organisation (known as a religious marriage celebrant) or someone providing secular or non-religious weddings (known as a civil marriage celebrant). Only authorised or registered marriage celebrants have the authority to perform marriages in Australia. There are many "non-legal" ceremonies in the Australian community, however, that may be officiated by unauthorised celebrants, known as general celebrants.
[edit] Marriage celebrants
Since its introduction in 1973 by the Federal Government, the Marriage Celebrant Program has enabled many thousands of couples to be married in civil ceremonies. Celebrants were appointed based on geographic location and the perceived need for a celebrant in the area. This was a very restrictive system.
Thirty years later, following an extensive review and the introduction of reforms by the Federal Attorney-General, the marriage celebrant system changed.
Since September 2003, prospective marriage celebrants have had to undergo Government-approved, accredited training in marriage celebrancy, and meet specific criteria set by the Federal Attorney-General's Department to be declared a "fit and proper person" to hold the office of "marriage celebrant". Successful applicants have then joined a waiting list for registration as a marriage celebrant by the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants. Appointments are made annually in September, and through the year in particular areas as deemed necessary.
Registration provides the legal authority to practice as a marriage celebrant and a four-digit alpha-numeric registration number. Once registered (or authorised as it is also known), the marriage celebrant can marry couples in virtually any location (e.g. beach, headland, boat etc) and at any time of the day or night. The Celebrant is responsible for processing and lodging all legal paperwork and registration of the marriage in accordance with defined procedures. [1]
Marriage celebrants may also conduct other types of "non-legal" ceremonies - baby naming (or namegiving) ceremonies, renewal of marriage vows, funerals, commitment ceremonies, and so on.
[edit] General celebrants
Many celebrants who are currently awaiting appointment as marriage celebrants are practising as General Celebrants in the community. General celebrants may not perform marriages, but can perform a range of different "non-legal" ceremonies including naming (namegiving) ceremonies, funerals, renewal of wedding vows, anniversaries, significant birthday celebrations, commitment ceremonies (for same-sex couples who cannot marry under Australian law, or heterosexual couples who cannot marry for personal, religious or legal reasons), memorials and or scattering of ashes ceremonies, boat-naming ceremonies, blessing of new home or office ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, naturalisation (citizenship) ceremonies, and even croning or other alternative (pagan) ceremonies.
